Zambia Heads to the Polls With Hichilema Seeking a Second Term

August 14, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Zambians voted on August 13 in a presidential and parliamentary election that will determine whether President Hakainde Hichilema secures another five years in office after a first term marked by debt restructuring, economic reforms and persistent pressure over living costs.

Hichilema, who won the presidency in 2021 after defeating incumbent Edgar Lungu, is seeking to extend his administration’s economic programme. His government has pointed to progress in restructuring Zambia’s external debt, restoring economic stability and attracting investment, while opposition parties have focused on the cost of living and the extent to which the recovery has benefited households.

The contest has drawn particular attention to the country’s economic direction. Zambia became the first sovereign default of the Covid-19 era in 2020 after failing to make a debt payment, and the Hichilema administration has since completed a restructuring of more than 12 billion US dollars of debt. The government has also sought to revive investment in the mining sector, particularly copper, a major source of export earnings.

But the economic recovery remains a central political fault line. Opposition candidates have argued that improvements in macroeconomic indicators have not sufficiently eased pressure on households, with unemployment, poverty and living costs remaining prominent campaign issues.

Hichilema is facing a fragmented field of opposition candidates, including Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Alliance. The opposition has also raised concerns about governance, human rights and the political environment ahead of the vote.

The election has significance beyond the presidential contest. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer and possesses deposits of minerals considered important to global energy and technology supply chains. The government’s efforts to increase copper production and attract mining investment have placed the country at the centre of growing competition for critical minerals.

About eight million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots across more than 13,500 polling stations. The election also covers parliamentary and local government positions, making the vote a test of the balance of political power beyond the presidency.

The European Union deployed 32 short-term observers to join an equal number of long-term observers who have been monitoring the electoral process across all 10 provinces. The EU mission is assessing voting, counting and the tabulation of results, as well as campaign activities, media coverage, campaign financing and the participation of women, young people and people with disabilities.

Under Zambia’s electoral system, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50 percent of valid votes to win outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the election proceeds to a second round.

Source: FSX Business News